bright young folk

Maverick @ Zebra Bar, Maidstone

17 November 2008

Lineup (in alphabetical order):

Megson

the bright young folk review

What doesn’t come across from the stylish but austere graphic design of their records is just how engaging Stu Hanna and Debbie Hanna-Palmer are as performers. The usual origin stories of the songs are interspersed with charming insights into how they operate as a couple both on the road and at home. We were told how they chose to get a carpet instead of a new guitar and that IKEA is invaluable for the gigging musician by providing space to relax and budget breakfasts.

But really the friendly banter is the icing on the cake, it’s the music that will keep you coming back and they have no worries there.

Their enviable vocal partnership is evident from the records and the live show only serves to underline that. What’s more of a revelation is Stu Hanna’s remarkable guitar playing. With the exception of occasional flute from Debbie, Stu provided the only instrumentation of the evening although if you couldn’t see him you’d be hard pressed to tell. From tender to stomping in the blink of an eye, it often sounds like there’s more than one of him. You’d swear he was using a stomp-box but it’s just the way he hits the thing.

Megson gave an performance that was both musically satisfying and endearingly open and honest. An hour passed all too quickly.

Christopher Friedenthal

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